First Time: First Wave - Andrew Sa

Actor and Vocalist Andrew Sa has earned the title of Chicago's premiere queer country crooner. Sa's career has always been rooted in songwriting that highlights his easy and elegant voice, but when he met mentor and pioneer Patrick Hagerty of Lavender Country, “Lonesome Andrew” was born. Diving headfirst into the catalogs of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and other classic songwriters that defined his childhood, Sa easily slipped into this new but familiar persona. It wasn't long before all of Chicago was seeking out his voice.

Sa quickly became the star of The Cosmic Country Showcase, an instant smash hit camp-country revue based out of the Hideout, a bar that has fostered many golden voices for decades. One of those legendary voices, Kelly Hogan (Mavis Staples, Neko Case), instantly recognized Sa's abilities and quickly the two were booking gigs across the city as a duo. The young and talented Liam Kazar (Tweedy, Marrow) also recruited Sa for a duet on his debut album Due North. Sa also created a stunning film, Andrew in Anotherland, which was a celebration of Chicago's many voices that accompanied a live revue at the prestigious public amphitheater Millennium Park. Audiences and fellow artists alike reveled in Sa's intra-generational appeal that, while timeless, is rooted in a definitively young, queer perspective.

The First Time is a live lit and music series recorded at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. Each reader tells a true first tale, followed by any cover of the storyteller's choosing, performed by our house band, The First Time Three.

The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Production provided by Andy Vasoyan, Noah Janes, and Executive Producer Bobby Evers. Podcast produced by Andy Vasoyan. Recorded by Tony Baker.

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all podcasts